How Google’s Ad Stack Works and Why Regulators Are Probing Its Dominance

The DoJ is investigating monopoly allegations against the tech giant to ensure it's an honest broker

U.S. regulators are looking into Google, but what are they looking for? Photo Illustration: Dianna McDougall; Sources: Getty Images, Google

By Ronan Shields & Ethan Wu

July 29, 2020

Key insights:

Critics argue that Google essentially controls every sphere of the online ad market.
The market, and some regulators, are seeking to remedy that.

Big Tech is under fire from governments frustrated with its pervasive societal influence many believe allows it to operate without the checks and balances that constrain legacy industries.

Ronan Shields

@ronan_shields ronan.shields@adweek.com Ronan Shields is a programmatic reporter at Adweek, focusing on ad-tech.

Ethan Wu

Ethan Wu is an intern on Adweek’s media team. He is also a rising senior studying economics at Cornell University.